Why Pickleball is Becoming America’s New Favorite Sport
Watch out, tennis because there’s a new sport in town. A combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America. It’s a great way to get active for young and old alike.
The sport is played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net. Players use a plastic ball with holes in it and they serve across the net, much like in tennis. The rules are simple and easy to learn, but it can develop into a fast-paced game for more experienced players.
In fact, it’s becoming so popular one business was able to go from an online store to a retail store in just three years. Pickle Pro started off selling pickleball paddles online, and was able to open up a store four years ago in Naples Florida. The owner says the company grows about 150% per year.
For two years, more than 1,300 athletes compete in the U.S. Open, a seven-day national pickleball tournament held at East Naples Commuity Park. That’s a 40% increase in participants from the first tournament held in 2016.
Although the sport is growing in popularity across the nation, Florida is becoming a hub for pickle-ball lovers everywhere. The U.S. Open is helping Naples become the ‘Pickleball Capital of the World’. While in town, local stores sell everything from paddles and balls to special shoes designed with pickleball in mind.
Players say the sport is addicting, and it’s being touted as the number one way for active adults to stay in shape. It’s great cardio, while being easy on joints. This combination is causing 55+ communities to start adding pickleball courts to their list of amenities.
At Newby Management, we are no exception. In fact, many of our RV communities now have dedicated pickleball courts, along with hosted games and even tournaments. With Florida’s year-round beautiful weather, there’s never a bad time to get outside and see why pickleball is America’s new favorite sport.